CANBERRA: The 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024, the largest Indian film festival outside India, is always a star-studded affair and this year wasn’t going to be any different. The Parliamentary Friends of India hosted a special event, “Celebrating Indian Cinema in Australia,” at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra on August 13, 2024.
Renowned Indian actor Rani Mukerji and film maker, Karan Johar, graced the occasion with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for the Arts Tony Burke, and other dignitaries. The event also marked the 50th anniversary of the Yash Raj Films, with the launch of a commemorative stamp honouring legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra.
Prime Minister Albanese shared personal anecdotes about his backpacking trip to India in 1991, expressing his deep admiration for the country’s culture and cuisine. He emphasised the strong friendship between India and Australia and his memorable experiences with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Minister for the Arts Tony Burke expressed his love for Indian cinema, citing “Om Shanti Om” as his favourite film and sharing a highlight of his career: dining at Shah Rukh Khan’s home. He also praised the soundtrack of “Jodha Akbar” and acknowledged the influence of Hindi cinema on Hollywood films like “Moulin Rouge.”
Mitu Bhowmick-Lange, the curator and promoter of IFFM, played a pivotal role in fostering cultural exchange between India and Australia. She highlighted the festival’s growth and its impact on bridging the gap between the two nations and spoke about the new chapter in Indian cinema with the ‘Co-production Treaty’ between India and Australia. Bhowmick-Lange emphasised the importance of making Indian cinema more accessible in Australia and her efforts to create an online streaming platform for remote audiences that has been a resounding success.
Rani Mukerji expressed her excitement about the commemorative stamp for Yash Chopra and emphasised the shared cultural connections between India and Australia, citing cricket, movies, and her admiration for Australian artists like Baz Luhrmann and Hugh Jackman.
Karan Johar, known for his charm and wit, shared his admiration for Prime Minister Albanese’s recent engagement to Jodie Haydon. He discussed the growth of Indian movies at the Australian box office from the hey days when Mitu distributed ‘Saathiya’ in 2002 to the recent success of “Animal” in the Australian market, which has grossed over $5 million. He also highlighted the significant contribution of Indian cinema to the Australian box office at $45 million, no small change there. Johar also paid tribute to Yash Chopra’s legacy and his invaluable contributions to Indian cinema.
The event set the stage for a promising future for India-Australia film collaborations, as mainstream Indian cinema continues to gain popularity in Australia. Thanks to the efforts of individuals like Mitu Bhowmick-Lange and the strong support from both governments, the future of Indian cinema in Australia looks brighter than ever.
–Manbir Singh Kohli for ‘South Asia Times’ and ‘Kehte Sunte RadioZine’
– The youtube video is a jointly produced by ‘Kehta Sunte Radiozone’ & ‘South Asia Times’ (SAT).
